Chair: Jim S
Minutes: Harriet J
Present: Harriet J, Paul B, Jane K, Lynda S, Chris M
MINUTES
| 1. Agenda item I Welcome and apologies Harriet |
Jim welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies were received from Tila R, Naseem H, Neil W.
| 2. Agenda item II a) Minutes of the last meeting, 04/08/26 b) Matters arising from the last meeting, 04/08/26 Harriet |
No comments were received on the minutes of the last meeting.
Chris has reviewed the majority of the BCAG policies and has drafted proposed updates where necessary. The drafts have been circulated to core members for comment.
The meeting approved the updated policies and thanked Chris for his work on the revisions.
The policies will be due for revision in September 2031 or earlier if required.
Jim will put the up-to-date versions of the policies on the website, with the footer: “revised August 26; revision due 2031”.
The Safeguarding policy has not yet been reviewed. The meeting agreed that Tila would be the appropriate person to do this review; Harriet will ask if she is happy to take on the task.
Jim drew attention to a change in the law such that it is no longer sufficient to rely on a DBS-checked staff member being present with a group. Working with such groups must now be limited to x3 in every 30days for those without the required DBS check.
The meeting agreed that there should be one overarching set of BCAG policies covering all sub-groups rather than sub-groups such as BSCG having their own policies in place.
All other matters were covered in the agenda items below.
| 3. Agenda item III BCAG admin Harriet |
Total hours spent on BCAG business and projects since the August meeting were recorded – thanks to everyone for putting in the time. Harriet to ask any core members not at the monthly meeting, for their hours.
| 4. Agenda item IV Treasurer’s report (Naseem) |
The total for central funds continues to stand at £4,127.
BCAG was successful in its bid for the ‘Beat the Heat’ grant. Well done to those involved.
| 5. Agenda item V Social media, Newsletter, publicity Harriet |
Thank you to Joe, for the August newsletter. This will be his last. We are grateful to Joe for all the work he has put in to producing newsletters.
No one has yet come forward to take on the role of editor.
In the absence of a newsletter, Jim offered to send out bulletins to those on the membership mailing list should any of the sub-project leads need to send information round.
Tila’s work on updating the website continues. Thank you, Tila.
Stats for the Socials this month were:
Email lists
CAG 360 (216 voting members); BSCG 228; BATS 125; Litter Pickers 19; Water 81; Emergency Planning 50
CAG 1440; BSCG 1234; BATS 81; Litter Pickers 213
| 6. Agenda item VI Bridge Street Community Garden BSCG (Tila) |
Tila’s report thanks all the volunteers who have been helping water the Garden during the continuing hot dry spell. Watering has all been done with buckets and watering cans because of the hosepipe ban. As a result of their hard work, the good news is that the heritage fruit trees seem to have survived the drought.
Tila also thanks Jim for his daily check of the Garden. There have recently been rough sleepers at the Garden – the community wardens have been notified.
Events this month included a Dabke dance workshop facilitated by dancer Ali Pali. The event was organised by Tamzin, Lynne and Joe.
Tamzin also led sessions this month with Home-Start, Quakers Nursery, and Little Sparrows, these focussing on child-led art and nature activities.
Tamzin has decided to step back from her role organising Garden events.
Thank you Tamzin, for the creativity brought to the Garden and for the sessions led.
Thanks also to Lynne for her role in co-facilitating some of these sessions.
Thriving in Nature sessions have been held in partnership with Sunrise Multicultural Project. The Garden welcomed a group of women from Oxfordshire African Caribbean Multicultural Association who visited with Martha from CAG Oxfordshire. This group has an allotment in Blackbird Leys where they grow African and Caribbean plants.
Milly delivered an outreach session which enjoyed using leftover vegetables as printing stamps.
There was an elderberry juice making session which combined with craft activities.
Thank you to Naseem, Zainab and Jack for helping facilitate the activity.
The Garden collaborated with People’s Theatre Collective, making scenery for a play created by young people and performed at The Mill Arts Centre. Those involved were given tickets so they could attend the performance and see their artwork in use as part of the set.
The Garden helped Oxfordshire County Council distribute some Beat the Heat packs to people living in particularly hot homes.
| 7. Agenda item VII Browning Road Orchard BRO Harriet |
The flyer asking for volunteers to come forward to take the lead in organising events in the Orchard, has been printed.
Jane and Lynda will kindly deliver the flyer along with a flyer from Banbury Garden Club.
| 8. Agenda item VIII Banbury Active Travel Supporters group (Paul / Neil) |
Paul attended the Traffic Advisory Committee with road planners. Progress is slow on the various projects improving active travel, and is dependent on funds being made available.
The Cherwell Street works are finished and it’s now possible to walk straight across towards the station. Comments suggest this was very high cost for the amount of work involved.
BATS has been involved with the Oxford Road to Twyford scheme.
| 10. Agenda item X Nature Harriet |
The second and final phase of gravel seeding in the Hanwell Brook was undertaken by a committed band of volunteers. The hard physical work was completed in impressively short time, helped by learning from phase one, which speeded the process.
| 11. Agenda item XI Climate Action Lynda, Chris |
The date for the next Give and Take will be put back due to the electrical repairs team being involved in a Repair Café in Castle Quay, 26th September, as part of the latter’s Sustainable September.
| 11. Agenda item XI Banbury Litter Pickers Jane |
August was another busy month for the Litter Pickers.
The group is increasing its activity in ‘preventative actions’ to help reduce littering at source.
Two of the worst places for littering are Middleton Close and the Southam Road layby, both places used as overnight parking by lorries. The Litter Pickers are pressing for the construction of a purpose-built lorry park for Banbury so that the drivers have somewhere appropriate to go rather than parking overnight in residential areas. Our MP supports this proposal.
For the group litter picks, the organisers call on shops and businesses in the designated areas in advance to increase their awareness of the environment around their premises and to encourage them to let staff join in.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Lynda has booked a stand for BCAG at the Canal Festival, 3rd and 4th October. A message asking for volunteers to help with the stand has been circulated to the mailing list.
OxCAG has invited BCAG core members to their 25th anniversary celebrations on 22nd September. Sadly, neither Jim nor Harriet are able to attend.
The meeting expressed disappointment at the loss of the CDC Castle Quay Community Hub. The replacement space, part of the CDC offices, has little community information displayed, and is not a welcoming environment. It is only open during CDC office hours. Steve K is in discussion with Jon Wild, CDC, to see what improvements can be made.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next monthly meeting will be held online, Tuesday 6th October at 7.30pm